Ipod Touch ( New One, Not Sure of Number )

Ipod touch can iChat with other apple devices as long as there is internet service. To text with non apple devices, you need a texting ap. There are a lot of them to choose from and many are free, or you can pay a small fee (one time to purchase the ap).

Email, you just need to set up an email account (create a new one with gmail or yahoo or whatever; or use an existing one that you'll need to set up in the ipod's account information, password included, so that it can access the account). And you'll need wi-fi for that as well, obviously.

Go to settings and then Messages and enter the email address that you want to use for your iPod in the "send & received" field. Also set up an iCloud account with that same email address and add that account under the iCloud in settings. (I think you need to set up an iCloud account thru the iCloud website. It has been awhile so I can't remember for sure.)

Get out of settings and go to Contacts and enter the info for the other person including the email address they have their iPod setup with. You can also setup contacts for anyone who has an iPhone and put in their cell # so you can message them from the iPod also.

Once all that is setup, you can go to Messages, click on pencil icon on top right, enter contact name in the "to" field then type message and send.

For a texting app, my dds used to use TextFree. My oldest dd now has a cell phone (not a smart phone) so she doesn't use that app anymore. My youngest uses my cell phone (not a smart phone). For friends who have smart phones that aren't iPhones, she and the friend use the Tango app.

There are numerous APPS that you can download for free such as TextNow or TextFree that assign you a 'phone' number so that non-Apple devices can text you.

I will say that with Textnow my daughter was getting collection calls constantly on that phone number. she finally deleted that APP and is trying Textfree. We'll see how that one goes.

iMessage
Here is the link about it:
http://osxdaily.com/2011/10/18/set-up-imessage-on-iphone-...
It is for "i" gadgets to "i" gadgets.

Another good thing to do is: GO to an Apple store, and ask them how to use it. They even have free classes etc. on any of their products.
Or simply go to the Apple website and look up your iTouch and how to use it.

Texting... is not the same as e-mailing.